BREAKING: CrossFit Fires Dave Castro
Dave Castro has been fired from his position as general manager of Sport for CrossFit LLC by Eric Roza, according to an internal email circulated to CrossFit employees on January 4. The change comes seven weeks before the 2022 CrossFit Games season kicks off and Roza said the decision was “difficult” in the internal memo.
- “(Dave’s) vision, creativity and drive have taken the CrossFit Games from an informal backyard competition at his family’s ranch into a global phenomenon with hundreds of thousands of participants and millions of viewers worldwide,” said Roza in the memo.
Castro confirmed the firing to Morning Chalk Up via text but did not respond to a further request for comment. However, Castro posted this comment to Instagram:
- “I have talked to Roza once in the last 3 or so months during his time away. He called me tonight to fire me. He told me they had messaging prepared that this was mutual. I asked him not to use that because that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
One big thing: The most immediate question is who replaces Castro, who just wrapped up his 15th CrossFit Games as its first and only director. He’ll be replaced by longtime CrossFit employee Justin Bergh who is being promoted from his position as VP of Sport and Partnerships.
- Roza in an email to employees: “I have made the difficult decision to change the leadership of the Sport team to best support CrossFit’s go-forward plans, and Dave Castro will be leaving the business.”
The big picture: The Games has only ever had one director since its inception in the backyard of Castro’s ranch in Aromas, CA in 2007. As such, for the past 15 years, it’s been stamped with a uniquely Castro feel.
- In that time, Castro has transformed the Games from a backyard barbeque competition to a major international event broadcast live on CBS Sports.
- Given the proximity of the start of the season, it’s unlikely that any significant changes will take place to the overall season and structure.
- With the CrossFit Games still eight months away, however, we could be looking at a different Games look, feel and presentation.
The entire email: Sent January 4, 2022
Team,
I have made the difficult decision to change the leadership of the Sport team to best support CrossFit’s go-forward plans, and Dave Castro will be leaving the business.
Over the last fifteen years, Dave has played a key role in building CrossFit into what it is today.
His vision, creativity and drive have taken the CrossFit Games from an informal backyard competition at his family’s ranch into a global phenomenon with hundreds of thousands of participants and millions of viewers worldwide. Dave was also a central figure in the growth of CrossFit’s training business, helping to scale the seminar department to reach tens of thousands of trainers.
All of us in the world of CrossFit owe Dave a debt of gratitude for his contributions, and we wish him well as he brings his talents to his next chapter.
Dave has assembled a world-class team, which will now be led by Justin Bergh, and we are excited to see this new generation of leadership build on his legacy as we work together to bring our Sport to the next level of success.
I look forward to seeing you all at next week’s All Hands Meeting.
Best,
Eric
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